.\"	@(#)rand.3c	6.2 (Berkeley) 9/29/85
.\"
.TH RAND 3C "September 29, 1985"
.AT 3
.SH NAME
rand, srand \- random number generator
.SH SYNOPSIS
.nf
.B srand(seed)
.B int seed;
.PP
.B rand()
.fi
.SH DESCRIPTION
.ft B
The newer random(3) should be used in new applications;
rand remains for compatibilty.
.ft R
.PP
.I Rand
uses a multiplicative congruential
random number generator with period
.if t 2\u\s732\s0\d
.if n 2**32
to return successive pseudo-random
numbers in the range from 0 to
.if t 2\u\s731\s10\d\(mi1.
.if n (2**31)\(mi1
on the VAX, and
.if t 2\u\s715\s10\d\(mi1.
.if n (2**15)\(mi1
on the PDP-11.
.PP
The generator is reinitialized by calling
.I srand
with 1 as argument.
It can be set to a random starting point by calling
.I srand
with whatever you like as argument.
.SH "SEE ALSO"
random(3)
